With intense heat and high risk of forest fires, Prime Minister directs urgent prevention and control

On May 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Official Telegram No. 43/CD-TTg on continuing to drastically and effectively implement measures to prevent and fight forest fires nationwide.

The Official Telegram stated that in recent days, due to the impact of climate change and the influence of the El Nino phenomenon, intense heat has been occurring in many localities, with the highest temperature commonly ranging from 37^oC to 39^oC, even above 42^oC in some places. 15 forest fires have occurred in the provinces of Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Quang Tri, Nghe An, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, An Giang, etc., burning over 260 hectares of all types of forests. This had negative impacts on the ecological environment and people's lives.

Particularly, the fire from April 26–27, 2024, in Vi Xuyen district, Ha Giang province, burned nearly 20 hectares of forest; two forest rangers died and another ranger was injured while on firefighting duty.

According to forecasts from the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, in the coming days, hot weather will continue to occur in many localities, especially in the Central Coast provinces (from Quang Binh to Phu Yen), the Central Highlands, and the Southern region. From May 10–20, 2024, widespread heat is likely to return in the Northern and Central regions. Therefore, the risk of forest fires remains high.

To continue proactively preventing and fighting forest fires and minimizing damage caused by forest fires, the Prime Minister requests:

Ministers of the following Ministries: Agriculture and Rural Development, National Defense, Public Security, Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, and Information and Communications; Chairman of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises; General Directors of Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, and Vietnam News Agency; Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and municipal cities, according to assigned functions, tasks, and authority, continue to strictly implement:

Conclusion No. 61-KL/TW dated August 17, 2023 of the Secretariat on continuing to implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership for forest management, protection, and development;

Official Telegram No. 31/CD-TTg dated April 4, 2024, and Official Telegram No. 41/CD-TTg dated April 27, 2024, of the Prime Minister on proactively strengthening urgent measures for forest fire prevention and fighting, and related guiding documents.

At the same time, absolutely do not be subjective, negligent, or lose vigilance, especially during peak periods of sunshine and heat, because this time is just the beginning of the summer.

The Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and municipal cities is responsible for forest fire prevention and fighting in the area and urgently directs the implementation of the following key and urgent tasks:

Direct People's Committees at all levels and functional agencies to strictly carry out management responsibilities for forest fire prevention and fighting and strengthen the work of inspecting and supervising forest fire prevention and fighting early, remotely, right from the grassroots, which must be considered a key and thorough task.

Strengthen dissemination and education to raise people's awareness and responsibility for forest fire prevention and fighting. At the same time, inspect, urge, and strictly control people's use of fire in and near forests, especially slash-and-burn activities, and temporarily stop using fire to process vegetation; strictly handle acts of using fire that pose a risk of causing forest fires during peak periods of high forest fire risk.

Proactively and urgently review local plans for forest fire prevention and fighting with the "4 on-spot" motto; arrange forces, vehicles, supplies, and funds to serve forest fire prevention and fighting;

Directly direct coordination between forces participating in forest fire prevention and fighting, ensuring efficiency and safety; strengthen professional training and coaching on forest fire prevention and fighting for forces working in forest fire prevention and fighting; ensure labor protection and toxic smoke prevention equipment, logistics, food, drinking water, and medical supplies to serve forces performing the task of fighting forest fires;

Assign 24/24 on-duty force during the dry season; arrange checkpoints, patrol, and guard in key areas prone to forest fires; strictly control people entering and leaving forest areas with a high risk of forest fires; promptly detect fire points, mobilize forces to control and extinguish forest fires in the shortest time;

Have plans to relocate people, assets of the people, the state, and businesses out of areas affected by forest fires when a forest fire occurs; have measures to ensure absolute safety and have appropriate and effective policies for forces participating in the task of fighting forest fires. Effectively implement the Project "Improving the capacity of forest rangers in forest management and protection and forest fire prevention and fighting in the 2021–2030 period," according to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 177/QD-TTg dated October 10, 2022;

Proactively direct functional agencies, coordinate to investigate and clarify the causes, and strictly handle subjects who intentionally violate the provisions of the law on forest fire prevention and fighting. Handle the management responsibilities of the leader when a forest fire occurs; promptly praise and reward organizations and individuals actively participating in forest fire prevention and fighting; and take responsibility to the Prime Minister if widespread forest fires occur and cause great damage to forests in areas under their management.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for proactively directing the work of forecasting, warning, and organizing forest fire prevention and fighting nationwide, focusing on directing the implementation of some key and urgent tasks, as follows:

Organize close monitoring of weather developments, especially in key areas at high risk of forest fires, and promptly provide information to localities to proactively implement forest fire prevention and fighting plans; maintain forecasting and warning of forest fire risks to timely provide information on mass media and communication channels for direction and administration;

Strengthen the direction and inspection of forest fire prevention and fighting in localities, especially in key areas of forest fires; be ready to support localities with firefighting forces and equipment, fire location information, and command when a large forest fire occurs. Promote the application of high technology in forecasting, warning forest fire risks, and early detecting forest fires; maintain a permanent regime of forest fire prevention and fighting according to regulations.

The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security direct units to review and proactively provide the possibly highest support plans for forest fire fighting in the stationed area, ready to mobilize forces and means to participate in firefighting when a forest fire occurs.

The Minister of Industry and Trade and Chairman of the Comission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises direct the electricity industry and Vietnam Electricity to preside and coordinate with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure absolute safety of the national electricity system and prevent incidents in the transmission and supply of electricity to serve production and people's lives.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment directs functional agencies to closely monitor the situation, improve the quality of forecasting and warning, and promptly provide information on weather and extreme weather phenomena to relevant agencies and people, serving forest fire prevention and fighting.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, Vietnam News Agency, and other media agencies continue to do a good job of information and communication on protecting forests and preventing and fighting forest fires early, remotely, right from the grassroots; promptly provide information on forest fire warnings and forecasts.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang is assigned to directly direct and handle issues related to forest fire prevention and fighting, especially issues that arise suddenly and unexpectedly.